Estoril MotoGP: Michelin boss delighted at tyre improvement

Michelin boss Jean-Philippe Weber has declared his satisfaction that new tyres introduced for this weekend’s Estoril GP have moved Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden closer to runaway world championship leader Casey Stoner.

Rossi has used one new front tyre and two new rear tyres in his allocation this weekend and has been significantly more competitive against the formidable Stoner and Bridgestone combination.

The Italian was second overall in free practice behind Stoner and will start tomorrow’s 28-lap race from third on the grid after this afternoon’s qualifying session saw Nicky Hayden claim his first pole position of the season.

The new tyres were tested in Misano last week and Rossi spoke yesterday of the improved performance from both the front and rear rubber he had been given.

And Weber said he was happy that Michelin had at least made some progress after a disastrous run of results that has seen Stoner and Bridgestone dominate the last three races in Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano.

Weber told MCN: “I am happy with the steps we have taken this weekend. With Valentino’s tyres and also for Honda we worked on a bigger front tyre.

“On the rear it is also a new construction with a new size to give a little bit bigger contact patch.

“The profile is a little bit bigger and this is for edge grip and corner exit grip. These are the areas where we have needed to work.”